Maharashtra is in an unprecedented mess every which way. The state that once boasted of being among the best governed is now mired in a controversy over massive irregularities in one of its marquee schemes. There are reports of a multi-layer crisis in the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, which contributed to the decisive victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies in the October 2024 Assembly elections, and weakened the Opposition’s claim to power.Reports citing sources complain about glaring discrepancies in a yet-to-be-tabled report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) which has examined the scheme. It seems over 92 lakh beneficiaries of the Ladki Bahin Yojana have been removed after two years, following a so-called verification exercise by the Maharashtra government. Among those delated are 29,000 male beneficiaries, 8,000 government employees and 62 lakh for whom e-KYC had not been completed. And another 3.6 lakh were already receiving Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana benefits. Not just these, another 2.5 lakh were those who had more than two beneficiaries in a family and to top it all, 1.8 lakh were aged above 65 years and 16 lakh had a family income above the Rs 2.5 lakh cut-off for annual income according a report published on the Indian Express.Interestingly, beneficiaries who were removed after the verification received about Rs 14,000 crore when they were still being counted, the publication says.There has been no official clarification on the concerns raised in the news report.What the report exposes is the quality of governance in the state and the gross opportunism of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners – all at the cost of the state exchequer. It appears that the BJP-led coalition neglected the criteria for beneficiaries and virtually allowed everyone, including males, to get electoral advantage. Does it remind one of the distribution of what the BJP-called ‘revdis’?This scheme was launched in June 2024 after the ruling NDA received a major jolt in the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. The first two instalments were released together in August before the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into force for the Maharashtra assembly elections held in November 2024.Interestingly, the BJP, the National Congress Party (NCP), led by the late Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena have all been claiming credit for the ‘masterstroke’ that left the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) packing despite a good show in the Lok Sabha elections in May 2024.Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar. Photo: PTI.An atmosphere has also been created, more so in recent years, in which an MLA or MP cannot do much development in his area unless he is not blessed by the powers that be. So the party structures, especially of smaller parties, have become so fragile that leaving aside their ideology and ideals, most of the opposition legislators are ready to do business with the ruling side. They do not give two hoots about the Anti-defection Act.It is also a changed Maharashtra, corrupt to the core, where even a municipal corporator is a millionaire. The days of politics of probity and integrity are not only long over but are also being derided in the land of Mahatma Phule (Jyotiba Phule is commonly known by this name in Maharashtra), B.R. Ambedkar, and Shahu Maharaj. Almost every leader is less a leader and more an agent.A state where the most dominant community – the Marathas – has been constantly demanding reservation in government jobs and education is reflective of the state of affairs in a state which is witnessing a dangerous socio-political-economic cocktail.Maharashtra is not only the most industrialised but also the most urbanised state in the country, and its income is more than the national average. Despite bearing the tag of being one of the most developed, the state witnesses a spate of farmers’ suicides, signalling farm distress as well as disparity between urban areas and the countryside.With almost half of its population residing in cities or the proliferating semi-urban areas, the once predominantly agricultural state is going through a transition and a painful one at that. City dwellers are unhappy about the urban infrastructure, which is under increasing strain due to migration from other places. Unemployment is the biggest problem, and so is poverty.Joblessness is rampant in villages due to lack of opportunities. Major cities are replete with skyscrapers as well as slums and there is growing migration in the state.No single party can be blamed alone for the downward slide, which has become more pronounced after the BJP’s rise and its politics of one-upmanship to subjugate allies and opponents. As it is often said in the present times ‘Big brother is not only watching but is active behind the scenes.’An economist rued that the welfare state has given up the task of creation of jobs, and this is leading to growing informalisation of the economy that entails lower wages and, subsequently, a lower standard of living and a struggle for daily survival. A majority of the state’s income is from the services sector. There are no government jobs, and people are being fooled by the powers that be by attending conferences like Davos to tom-tom how much investment it has succeeded in bringing to the state. In reality, public is generally kept in the dark about how much of these proposed investments have come to fruition. People are being fed a make-believe world. “The welfare of the common people and the development of the state have become synonymous with the development of the local contractor” is the often-heard refrain.Reports that beleaguered Sharad Pawar, whose NCP-SP is a key partner in the INDIA bloc, is likely to side with the BJP in parliament in the passage of key bills, including the controversial delimitation Bill, is a case in point. The party’s working president, Supriya Sule, who is the daughter of Pawar, suggested support for delimitation if there is a 50% seat hike for all the states.The whole opposition is railing against the measure, which is said to be the key for the BJP to win the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.It appears that the ailing octogenarian leader, who is no longer the Maratha strongman, is faced with major desertions in his party if he fails to play ball.The British policy of ‘divide and rule’ has been adopted with telling effect by the new rulers, who have already marginalised the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray, six of whose nine Lok Sabha MPs have bolted.Now, Congress, which has latent support in the countryside, is like an orphan child.In fact, there is no opposition worth its salt, and a resurgent BJP is out to marginalise every ally and opponent by hook or crook after securing control over the premier state. The BJP has been consistently attempting the task for over four decades, when the Congress was at its peak.The BJP’s calculation that the lack of a credible opposition would entrench it in power has succeeded so far, with no alternative in sight.There has been a method in the madness of the ruling dispensation. If the Ladki Bahin Yojana is to woo the woman voter, the latest announcement by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is to cater to the farming community. He has announced a waiver of Rs 48,000 crore on farm electricity bill arrears.Sunil Gatade and Venkatesh Kesari are New Delhi-based journalists.